CNL for experienced nurse

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in OR.

hello! I've done a lot of research on the CNL role, on allnurses and on the web but I still have a couple questions. I've seen a lot of posts about a direct-entry CNL for non-nurses but I want to get some feedback from RN's who go back to school to get their CNL. I know the CNL is a "general bedside masters prepared nurse" but what does that actually look like on the floor? If you are on a tele floor with 30 patients, are you in charge of overseeing all 30? If something goes wrong with the patient, what are you doing vs. what the bedside nurse does?

Thanks! :redpinkhe

Do you mean CNS - Clinical Nurse Specialist?

There aren't a whole lot of CNLs out there, and most of the interest seems to be in the direct-entry programs for non-nurses (I have my own little paranoid theory about the development of the CNL role in the first place, but I'll spare you ... :)).

Your best bet might be to contact the CNL programs you're interested in and ask them to put you in touch with some of their (experienced RN) graduates -- that's a reasonable request and they should be willing to accommodate you. (If not, I would see that as a big red flag about a particular school.)

Your difficulty in finding information might be telling you something significant in itself -- there doesn't seem to be a great deal of interest in the CNL role in the larger healthcare community. I follow the nursing openings in my entire region on a regular basis, and, so far, I've seen only one opening posted for a CNL anywhere in my larger area (that's one, ever).

Best wishes for your journey! :balloons:

Specializes in OR.

Thanks! Elkpark, what is your paranoid theory?? I'm so interested now!

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